WhatsApp Introduces Usernames for Enhanced Privacy
WhatsApp is rolling out an optional username feature, allowing its three billion global users to chat and connect seamlessly without revealing their personal phone numbers. The Meta-owned messaging platform announced that the feature will begin rolling out to its users worldwide over the coming months, starting with a reservation system from Monday.
How the Username Feature Works
Once the rollout is complete, users will be able to find and message each other using unique usernames instead of exchanging phone numbers. Usernames can be up to 35 characters long, but certain names linked to high-profile public figures and celebrities will be restricted to prevent impersonation. WhatsApp said users can change or remove their usernames at any time, and there will be no public directory where people can search for usernames.
The company described the update as a major privacy feature, particularly for people who regularly join community groups, public discussions or interact with people they don't know personally. Head of Product Alice Newton-Rex noted the feature was born out of user feedback from people who felt uncomfortable exposing their phone numbers in large group chats.
User Control and Safety
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp's head of product, said: "We had heard from users that they didn't always want to share their phone numbers in order to be in contact with others, particularly in group chats." She added that the feature would "give users control over how they choose to show up" on the messaging platform. WhatsApp says people will still be able to block and report unwanted messages, and phone numbers will continue to be required when creating a WhatsApp account. However, once usernames are fully available, individual phone numbers will no longer be visible to other users during chats initiated through usernames.
Privacy Concerns Remain
While the feature masks phone numbers from other users, privacy advocates like Oxford Professor Carisa Veliz remind consumers that Meta still collects communication metadata for its business backend. Carisa Veliz, a professor at Oxford University and author of Privacy is Power, said: "It is a good feature, but even if it does offer more privacy, remember WhatsApp is not a privacy-friendly app overall. It collects much metadata about users for marketing purposes. We have to remember that WhatsApp is owned by Meta - one of the tech companies with the worst track records when it comes to privacy."
WhatsApp has repeatedly said it cannot read users' private conversations because chats are protected with end-to-end encryption. The company does not use the content of messages for advertising. However, Meta does collect certain metadata, including information such as who users communicate with and when they interact, to help support its advertising business across its platforms.
Comparison with Signal and Broader Context
Signal, another encrypted messaging app, launched a similar username feature in 2024, allowing users to communicate without exposing their phone numbers. The username feature comes as WhatsApp continues expanding beyond personal messaging into business communication, payments and AI-powered tools. It also follows a leadership change at the company, with Indian fintech entrepreneur Kunal Shah set to become WhatsApp's new head after Will Cathcart announced he would step down following seven years in the role.
WhatsApp remains one of the world's most widely used messaging apps. Users must be at least 13 years old to create an account, and messaging services are not expected to be covered under the UK's planned social media restrictions for children under 16, which are due to take effect next year.
